Your Odds of Winning the Toto Jackpot? 1 in 14 Million

Why do Singaporeans spend billions chasing lightning-strike odds? Meet the winners, learn the lessons and find out where state-run gambling revenue really goes. Jessica Novia reports

- Jessica Novia reports

It was 2013, just a few days before Chinese New Year.

Mr Ivan Leong, then 23, had just started working as an associate consultant for a head-hunting firm when his colleagues told him about a Hong Bao Draw taking place that night.

The jackpot was $5 million. Mr Leong had never bought lottery tickets before, but readily joined in when his colleagues pooled money to place a Toto bet.

"I had just started working and had less than $1,000 in my bank account," he recalls.

On a whim, he placed another bet on his own, a $10 quick pick where six numbers are randomly chosen by a computer generator. His girlfriend shared the ticket with him.

That evening, he went over to his girlfriend's house to play mahjong with her relatives. When the results of the draw were announced online, she asked him how many matching numbers were needed to win.

"I recall telling her, 'I am not really sure, maybe three or four?'"

Looking disappointed, she threw the stub away. However, Mr Leong fished the stub out of the bin and discovered that she had checked the results for the wrong date.

His girlfriend checked the results again on her phone.

"Wait, I think we have six numbers," she said excitedly.

The mahjong tiles fell silent. Mr Leong placed the phone and the piece of paper on the table, and everyone huddled around him, checking the digits multiple times.

The room erupted in screams. Mr Leong and his girlfriend had won the first prize, a jackpot of $5 million, which was split with others who had chosen the same set of numbers – clinching the couple $1 million.

They pocketed the full amount as Singapore, unlike many countries, does not tax gambling winnings, which are considered windfalls rather than income.

SINGAPOREANS' LOVE OF THE LOTTERY